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Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
SportChina

Chinese Olympic champion’s decision to donate ‘peeling’ gold medal to museum sparks criticism

  • Zhu Xueying’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games medal had gone viral after she shared images of damage to it
  • Some online commenters ask why she donated a damaged medal to the Tianjin Sports Museum

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China’s Zhu Xueying competes in the women’s trampoline final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Photo: AFP
Jonathan White
Chinese Olympic champion Zhu Xueying has become the first from the Tokyo 2020 Games to donate their gold medal to a museum, though some have criticised the trampolinist for the decision.
Zhu had made headlines globally during her post-Tokyo quarantine when she posted a photograph of her Olympic gold medal apparently peeling, with the topic trending on Chinese social media.

Now, with her quarantine completed, Zhu was seen handing over her medal and the gear she wore during the event to the Tianjin Sports Museum in her hometown on August 28.

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Reports said that Zhu’s motivation was to allow more people to see her gold medal and to spread the Olympic spirit, while thanking the Tianjin Sports Bureau for the support they have shown in her career,

The gold medal won by Chinese trampoline athlete Zhu Xueying at the Tokyo Olympic Games that sparked a discussion concerning the “quality” of the medals made for the recent Games. There is discolouration top left. Photo: Sina Weibo
The gold medal won by Chinese trampoline athlete Zhu Xueying at the Tokyo Olympic Games that sparked a discussion concerning the “quality” of the medals made for the recent Games. There is discolouration top left. Photo: Sina Weibo
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“It is more meaningful to display the Olympic gold medals in a museum than at home,” Zhu was reported as saying by domestic media.

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